Donne, John. LETTERS TO SEVERALL PERSONS OF HONOUR. London: J. Flesher, to be sold by John Sweeting, 1654. 7.5" x 5.25". [8], 318, [2, blank] pp., with engraved portrait frontispiece, and this copy also retaining the front and rear blanks. Period mottled calf boards, rebacked with spine ruled and lettered in gilt. *************** First edition, second issue with a cancel title-page. The first issue appeared in 1651. This is the first and most substantial collection of John Donne's letters, which were compiled by his son. Donne's fame as a letter-writer was established during his own lifetime, and this is probably why his son tried to capitalize on it. Thanks to the younger Donne, the only other 17th century literary figure with more surviving letters is Francis Bacon. The present copy bears the engraved armorial bookplate of James Maidment, and the front endpaper and rear pastedown bears the signature of Joseph Philip Donne (see photos.)

Upper/inner corners of several leaves near front with some old and faded water-staining, and similar staining to upper margin to several leaves near end. Endpapers with some staining and foxing, otherwise a clean example overall.